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Happy New Year!
Your Board on Aging once again spent long hours
in 2002 addressing the important senior issues needing study and positive
resolution in a tightening budget environment.
On our roster were the "usual
suspects" – prescription drugs, transportation, quality assurance,
assisted living, nutrition service delivery, minority needs, age-friendlier
communities, better access to quality information and coordination with the Area
Agency on Aging teams.
These initiatives aim toward maintaining
autonomy for seniors, many of whom must live in a fixed income world. We will
search for strategic solutions for long-term care. We continue to strive for
expanded electronic usage in this computer age to reduce the need for senior
travel through the use of telemedicine, electronic financial transactions and
the like.
The Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA) has a
complement of 25 knowledgeable appointees from all areas of the state to address
these issues. The MBA staff is outstanding in its dedication and acquaintance
with senior needs.
All concerned also hail the significant
resource that seniors themselves bring to our state.
In January, the new legislative session begins.
Rest assured that your team is ready for the game. Our new committee structure
will enhance our ability to move the programs ahead.
A Minnesotan must never be like a famous author
who was quoted as saying, "I’ve always been interested in older people
but I’ve never liked them." It’s not enough to just be interested in
seniors – let’s make 2003 a five-star action performance year!
–Kenneth Moritz,
chair,
Minnesota Board on
Aging
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